MARCH 5 • 2020 | 23
Man Suing American
Airlines Arraigned on
Embezzlement Charges
In the midst of his discrimination lawsuit, Yehudah Adler
now faces four counts of embezzlement charges.
Y
ehudah Adler, an
Orthodox man
from Southfield,
has recently been in the
spotlight for suing American
Airlines for escorting him
and his family off a 2019
flight from Miami to Detroit
because of what the airline
deemed their “extremely
offensive body odor.”
Now, Adler is facing a
different legal dilemma: four
counts of embezzlement
charges he allegedly
committed in 2015 while
he was employed with
1-800-LAW-FIRM in
Southfield.
The complaint against
Adler was filed on Feb. 11.
Adler appeared in the
Southfield 46th District
Court in front of Judge
Shelia Johnson on Feb. 18.
He is facing two counts of
embezzlement of $100,000
or more, one count of
embezzlement of $50,000-
$100,000 and one count
of embezzlement by an
agent or trustee of $20,000
or more, Oakland County
Prosecutor Jessica Cooper
told the Jewish News.
Attorney Mitchell
Ribitwer is representing
Adler for this criminal case.
Adler is next scheduled
to appear in court March
20. Ribitwer could not be
reached for comment.
1-800-LAW-FIRM’
s
founder, Ari Kresch, is
the son of two Holocaust
survivors. The company
specializes in personal
injury, criminal defense,
civil rights and more.
The Adler family is
suing American Airlines
for discrimination based
on race, religion and
nationality. The lawsuit
claims that the airlines
“intentionally discriminated”
against the Adlers. They
are seeking compensation
for emotional distress and
punitive damages.
“I’
m not certain how this
will impact his [Adler’
s] civil
lawsuit,” Cooper said. “I
haven’
t practiced civil law in
a long time, but one doesn’
t
have anything to do with the
other.”
The Detroit Free Press
reported that, according
to Oakland County Chief
Assistant Prosecutor Paul
Walton, the embezzlement
case against Adler could
lead to his impeachment as a
witness in his civil suit if he
is convicted of these crimes.
If found guilty of just
one of the counts of
embezzlement of $100,000
or more, Adler could face
a fine of up to $50,000, or
three times the amount
embezzled. In addition to
the fine, Adler could serve
up to 20 years in prison for
the one count.
“Adler could face some
serious time, depending on a
multitude of circumstances,”
Cooper said. “If he is
found guilty on one or
all charges, his record
and other circumstances
could potentially lead
to him facing a harsher
punishment. But we won’
t
know what that is until the
trial.”
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
In honor of national Social
Workers Week, March 1-7, the
JN’
s inaugural Jewish Star of
the Week is Elana Rothstein
Miodownik, a social worker at
Farber Hebrew Day School in
Southfield.
“She truly cares about each
student that walks through the
school door,” said Kayla Hazan,
a parent of a Farber student who
wanted “Mrs. Mio” to get some
recognition for all she does at
Farber.
“She makes sure to know every-
one’
s name and create a connec-
tion with the students and parents
to make everyone feel comfortable
and secure sending their children
in the building every day,” Hazan
writes. “Mrs. Mio has a fun way
of knowing which students may
need a little extra help to get their
mornings going, and she makes a
point to check on those students
in a fun way.”
Hazan adds that in addition
to being this “amazing second
mom to the children at school,”
Miodownik is a mother, wife,
friend and involved with her shul.
She is also a large part of the new
Lasher Road Mikvah that is going
to be built on 22960 W. 11 Mile
Road.
Mazel tov, Mrs. Mio, you’
re a
Jewish Star!
Do you know of a star in the community
who deserves to be recognized? Send an
email with the person’
s name and photo
and why they deserve the honor to
jheadapohl@renmedia.us.
Jewish Star
of the Week
nal
al Soc
o ial
Elana
Rothstein
Miodownik